Simply stunning sightseeing at the sound! (Milford Sound (Fjordland, New Zealand))

Member Name: samm65

Product:	Milford Sound (Fjordland, New Zealand)
Date:	16/12/08 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Views, scenic

Disadvantages: can be a long coach journey but well worth it and you can take different options

Our day started in Queenstown where our tour departed from and would return to later that day.

We left very early in the morning by coach with around 30 other people of mixed ages from Queenstown to head to Milford Sound for what would be a really memorable day.

The coach follows Lake Wakatipu, then onto Kingston, Mossburn and onto Te Anau which is the door to the Fiordland National Park on South Island New Zealand and where we had a breakfast stop which was included in the tour price.

The breakfast was pastries, coffee, tea, juices and rolls with cold cheeses and meats, cakes and fruit, you could have whatever you wanted and as much as you wanted. It was taken in a lounge of a hotel at Te Anau so was very pleasant and comfortable and you could sit wherever you wanted and with whom you wanted unlike some tours where they sit you all on long tables together with a set menu.

Many tours start from te Anau also but as we were in Queenstown we did a full trip from there even though we are not in general overly fussed on organised excursions particularly coach tours and usually prefer to do our own thing.

This tour was however different, the scenery was simply stunning and the journey comfortable and the driver and guide were fabulous. Our fellow excursion mates were all like minded and all there for the same reason of course so the same awed exclaimations could be heard up and down the coach.

We travelled onwards to Eglington Valley and to the amazing Mirror Lakes, fab photo opportunities here and we didnt feel rushed or anything when we were allowed off the coach for a walk around the mirror lakes, we had plenty of time to take it all in. They are so called the Mirror lakes because the surface reflects back like a mirror which when you see it is absolutely stunning and such a picturesque setting.

The coach takes in much more scenery and stunning creeks and valleys along the way before arriving at the Homer Tunnel which has been carved through the solid rock to enable us to pass through to the Cleddau Valley and Milford Sound itself. We stopped here for more photo chances as there were hufe snowdrifts taller than the bus which we all had to have photos next to!

You see the sound looming as you approach and it is simply breathtaking. Once we had arrived we boarded our red boat for the cruise through the sound which i cannot begin to describe, this fjord has to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth, the peaks with their cascading waterfalls, the wildlife that can be seen and the sheer majesty of the place is simply awe inspiring.

You can opt for a lunch onboard which is a packed affair to eat during th cruise. Most people who were travelling back by coach were taking that as its a long drive back again. We didnt have the lunch box option, i doubt we would of eaten it anyway, we couldnt take our eyes of the sound.

The other reason was we were not travelling back by the coach as we had booked to fly back over the glaciers.

This was FAB FAB FAB...if you can do it!
Even better, if you can do the one that lands on the glacier and do a hike DO THAT!

We boarded a light propeller aircraft with 4 other people and the pilot , all donned our headphones and we were away. The pilot was a lovely lady and she told us what were the things to look out for and as we all had a window seat everyone had a fantastic view.

I cannot emphasise enough how fantastic the flight over the glaciers is, seeing Mitre Peak ( the main peak at the sound) that close is a sight i will never forget.

We did not do the trip that landed on the glacier as i would of been inable to hike sadly so our flight took in all the views before heading back to Queenstown.

I actually cannot remember how long the flight was, it certainly wasnt a quick fly over and back but we were back in Queenstown mid afternoon. The runway used on the landing back was the grass runway...a fact the pilot hadnt mentioned so as your preparing to land and you see the grass looming up its a little scary when one is usually used to tarmac, until you realise its the runway!

This is certainly a trip i would do again, its simply amazing. If you go to South Island, do visit Milford Sound and book whichever trip you can afford within your budget, you won't regret it.

THIS REVIEW WAS PREVIOUSLY POSTED ON QYPE BY MYSELF UNDER THE NAME SUNLINESAM ...I have added more information to this review however.

Summary: fantastic excursion a must see and do in New Zealand